Maria Sharapova vs Samantha Stosur – Match Preview: TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships 2011
Eight of the world’s best female tennis players gather at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships in one of the world’s most magnificent cities, Istanbul. The eight were divided into their two Round Robin groups; White and Red at
the official draw ceremony. The yearend Championships are set to kickoff on Tuesday the 25th of October 2011.
The two White group competitors to take up the gauntlet in a nail biting match were; the former world number one Maria Sharapova and US Open Champion Samantha Stosur. Although, the two have competed nine times against each other
prior to this event, in their head-to-head series Sharapova has an overwhelming lead with nine wins over Stosur’s none.
Not to mention, out of the four hard court events played against each other during their professional career, Sharapova has had an easy victory and out of the four tournaments played, second seeded Russian Sharapova has won three
matches in straight sets.
The first time the two had contested against each other was in 2004 during the third round of the AEGON classic on grass courts of Birmingham. The Russian had emerged victorious in straight sets of 6-4, 6-3.
In the pair's three meetings earlier this year, Sharapova achieved comfortable victories to eventually claim titles in Rome and Cincinnati besides a runner up finish to Victoria Azarenka in Miami.
Sharapova is the most experienced player of the lot and has the talent of capitalising it to the fullest. She has contested in the yearend Championships numerous times but her most notable performance was when she bagged the WTA
Tour Championships at her debut performance in 2004 by defeating thirteen time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the final.
During 2005 and 2006, Sharapova managed to reach the semi finals but saw her defeat at the hands of French Amelie Mauresmo and Justin Henin respectively. However, in 2007 she was a runner-up and got rid of many famous names such
as; Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Daniela Hantuchova and Anna Chakvetadze but her winning streak was put to an end by Belarusian Justin Henin.
Besides a final finish at Wimbledon this year where she was a heavy favourite, Sharapova had an remarkable season with two premier level titles in Rome and Cincinnati. Moreover, she is only inches away from becoming the world number
one and is currently ranked as world number 2.
US Open champion Samantha Stosur is one of the most erratic and volatile players on tour at the moment. She was capable of bringing a Serena-taming form on the most significant day of her life but she also found ways to yield to
Marion Bartoli in the final of the HP Open held in Osaka, Japan.
Nevertheless, Stosur has not only won three WTA singles titles to her name but also has the technique and skill of a game which can destroy the most ferocious of warriors on court but only on a given day!
Many tennis connoisseurs are of the opinion that if Sharapova overcomes her high error count and a ray of double faults, she might have a chance at the Championships but all are almost sure that she will defeat Aussie Stosur in
three sets. However, should Stosur bring on her Serena-taming form she might be able to oust the Russian to snap her losing streak.
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